Ortonville- Despite snow this week, spring is here and on the horizon is summer and annual area events that accompany the season of sun and fun.
Two of those events? CreekFest and the fireworks show? will be joined together this year. Mark your calendars to be in town June 19-22.
CreekFest, which celebrates Kearsley Creek and local waterways with educational exhibits, live entertainment, contests, and more, takes place over four days June 19-22 and includes a parade, carnival, beer tent, and half-marathon, 10K, and 5K runs. The fireworks show, usually planned for early July to mark Independence Day, will now be June 21.
Having the two events coincide will benefit everyone, said DDA Executive Director Molly LaLone.
‘We are making a big weekend celebration with the carnival, CreekFest, and the fireworks,? she said. ‘It makes sense to have a big weekend celebration instead of multiple small events. It all adds together for a great weekend.?
Fundraisers for CreekFest and for the fireworks show, which is put on by Wolverine Fireworks and costs in excess of $8,000, are a necessity for the success of both endeavors.
A recycle day fundraiser will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., May 3 at Paramount Signs + Graphix, 1695 S. Ortonville Road. Bring metal scrap donations.
From 5 p.m.-9 p.m., May 6, another CreekFest/fireworks fundraiser will be held at MacPhee’s Restaurant, 650 S. Ortonville Road, with a slideshow and updates about the festival weekend. Twenty percent of sales will benefit CreekFest and fireworks with presentation of a flyer available at village offices and the firestation, as well as printable from the downtownortonville.org website.
Wojo’s Greenhouse is also hosting a fundraiser May 26 and May 31, with 10 percent of sales benefitting CreekFest and fireworks fund when you tell the sales clerk.
The final fundraiser is planned for 5-9 p.m., June 5 at Bullfrogs, 2225 S. Ortonville Road, with final updates on CreekFest and the fireworks. Twenty percent of sales benefit the events, tell your server.
‘Fill the boot? at Bueche’s on June 6 and June 13 with donations, or look for cans in area businesses throughout May and June, in which you can donate to make CreekFest and the fireworks a success.
‘When we combined the events, it made CreekFest and the fireworks larger, and everything has become bigger except the budget, that’s why these fundraisers are important,? said LaLone.
CreekFest is also featuring ‘Ortonville Monarch Migration,? a special activity that aims to bring attention to the plight of monarch butterflies, whose numbers have decreased dramatically in recent years, in part due to the disappearance of milkweed, its larval host plant. Milkweed is present in the Heritage Garden in the village, which has been certified as a Monarch Waystation, and elementary school teachers and students are helping by raising milkweed in classrooms. They also hope to raise monarch chrysalises for release at the migration. Monarch wings and kits are available at the village offices for a donation to Monarch Watch. Details: Lois Robbins at 248-969-2518 or email lois@robbinsmail.com.
For more information on CreekFest and fireworks fundraisers, call Molly LaLone at 248-627-8070.